Irony Man Lives Again

Were totally living in the postmodern era. Like, have you seen Scream 3 and/or heard of the drumnbass collective Bad Company, not to be confused with the 70s rock supergroup? (We studied em both in French class.) Well, as if these examples werent hall-of-mirrors self-reflexive enough, now theres Diesel Boy, not to be confused with the drumnbass DJ.1 Diesel Boy (the band) employ obscure references like theyre Thomas Pynchon.2 To wit: "Tangled Up and Blew" (too wittycatch the Neil Young allusion?). To wit, two: "Alisons Starting to Happen," a Lemonheads cover, though they dont tell ya (likewise, the Lemonheads claim to non-fame would be ripping off "Mrs. Robinson"). DB totally knock the heads via irony: like, singing all hoarse, not pretty like pretty-boy Evan Dando.

Two-bit to wit, too: "Emo Boy." Also kinda about pretty you-know-whats, insofar as it utilizes feminizing discourse to rail at males who like passionate punk and not DBs happy-go-sucky brand of fizzy-ism jizms. Negatively referencing emo has a long tradition in punk-pop and hardcore. Unfortunately, I can name only two earlier instances: Blink-182 have "Emo," which offers no specific critique of the subgenre other than the fact that it kinda blows. And example two isnt really an example, if one considers authors intent (post-disco pomo doesnt require it). "About-as-Emo-as-Well-Ever-Get-Song" is the name given to Propaghandis "Possibly the Worst Song Ever Written" by some kidding (or conflating) kidnapster. It isnt the worst tune ever written (thatd be "Hotel California"), but thats why they said "possibly." Anyway, the not-DJ Diesel Boy boys buoyantly poo-poo-like poo-pooing of girly guys gets three separate band names (Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil, Modest Mouse) in, in under three minutes, not to mention mentions of a teens zine and his emo queenthe type, naturally, with barrettes in her hair. As long as she doesnt have a thought in her head. Or, later, somebody elses head in hand: "Guess I was just another dick, you were just another chick. I wonder what number youre up to now" (from why-not-69 "65"). Theyre so vain. I bet they think this song is about you.